Researchers and staff from The Sheikh Zayed Institute for Pediatric Surgical Innovation at Children’s National Medical Center visited the Rayburn House Office, one of the main office buildings of the United States House of Representatives, for an all-day event highlighting the latest in pediatric surgical technology.

Congressmen and visitors were invited to stop by the Institute’s stations at Capitol Hill to speak with experts about various instruments that are driving solutions for children’s health around the world.

Dr. Peter Kim, Vice President of the institute said: “The Sheikh Zayed Institute is the innovative hub of Children’s National Medical Center and this event was a great way to spread the word through show and tell. A high-profile event such as this allows us to demonstrate the true value of the Government of Abu Dhabi’s generous gift to Children’s National and the world-class innovation being produced at the Sheikh Zayed Institute.”

The Sheikh Zayed Institute opened its doors in 2011, and was made possible by a $150 million donation from the Government of Abu Dhabi. The gift remains the largest ever to support pediatric surgery.

Visitors were able to test out the technology at each table and speak with the innovators who brought it to life.

Some of the featured innovations at the event included:
• Human Algometer: This device is considered a game changer in pain management for children. Built to measure pain, the algometer will be useful for nonverbal children and children who are not old enough to articulate the severity and location of their pain.
• Medical Gaming Technology: Understanding and diagnosing complex pain through videogame-play is a novel technique that is a favourite among the children who use this form of physical therapy.
• Stereoscopic Augmented Reality: Laparoscopic procedures are more common today than ever before. This augmented reality dramatically improves the expert’s view during surgery.
• Digital Dysmorphology: This non-invasive assessment of Down Syndrome screening proves to be a quicker method of diagnoses.
• 3D Printing: This technology is where our surgeons and biomedical engineers meet. Engineers are able to print copies of a patient’s organs for specialists to practice on before surgery.